(Consumer alert: If this ever happens to you, don’t fall for an unscrupulous hustle. And, if you click through to the websites, don’t enter your personal information!)

Under a federal order, the men and the company are permanently banned from sending unwanted or unsolicited text messages — or helping anyone else do so.

“In addition, the two will also be prohibited from misrepresenting to consumers whether a product is ‘free,’ whether they have won a prize or been selected for a gift, or other behavior related to the nature of the scam,” an FTC news release said.

The men and the company also faced a monetary judgment of $4.2 million, which was suspended because of their inability to pay. Dalrymple and Wence will be required to pay $15,000 each to the FTC and must destroy any consumer data they may have collected while conducting the text message scam operation.

A stipulated final judgment and permanent injunction on the matter was signed this week by U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison, a federal jurist in Houston.